Cotton picking spindle



J1me 1957 E. MQBRUNER ETAL 2,795,918

COTTON PICKING SPINDLE Filed Dec. 8, 1953 lkyl m m u a N V M Mai. m 5 s Z 5 ATTORNEY COTTON PICKING SPINDLE Ernest M. Bruner, Los Angeles, Charles F. Smith, Inglewood, and Jack Oshatz, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to said Oshatz and one-half to Jack Katz, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 8, 1955, Serial No. 551,765

7 Claims. (Cl. 5650) This invention relates to a cotton picking spindle and more particularly pertains to a renewal attachment for the conventional spindle of a cotton picking machine embodying an elongated tapered or conical revoluble element having longitudinally extending rows of cotton picking spurs thereon such as is shown in the patent to Hagen No. 2,660,851 issued December 1, 1953.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cotton picking spindle attachment which may be applied to the conventional spindle to serve as a replacement therefor when the picking spurs thereon become excessively worn, and which is so constructed and so applied as to require no alteration in the structure of the worn spindle to which it is attached other than the removal and replacement of an oil sealing ring with which the spindle is equipped.

Another object is to provide a cotton picking spindle attachment which is so formed that it may be mounted in telescopic engagement with a conventional spindle and securely held in place thereon whereby replacement of a worn spindle of a cotton picking machine may be readily effected without removing the worn spindle from the machine and without tooling or working the worn spindle.

Another object is to provide a construction in the spindle attachment whereby it may be easily and quickly applied to and demountably fastened on a mounted spindle with a firm gripping action such as to prevent accidental displacement of the attachment.

The cotton picking spindle as now generally employed in cotton picking machines embodies a shaft provided with an elongated tapered hardened metal end portion having several flat faces extending longitudinally thereof formed with a series of spaced apart picking spurs which are so shaped as to snare and pluck the fibers of a cotton ball against which the spindle is rotated, and from which fibers accummulated thereon are removed by brushes.

The spurs on the spindle are subject to wear and accordingly require sharpening or renewal of the spindle which in either event necessitates removal of the spindle from the machine and consequent shelving of the machine for a protracted period since removal of the spindles involves demounting the shafts thereof from their bearings which ordinarily is done in a shop or repair plant. Furthermore the sharpening of the spurs or the removal of the worn spindle is quite costly both as to loss of production and costs of removal, repairs or renewal and replacement in the machine.

The present invention contemplates enabling economical reconditioning of the cotton picking spindles in the field without removing the spindles from the machine and in a fashion whereby such reconditioning may be repeatedly effected by successive renewal of replacements.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter de- Patented June 18, 1957 scribed and claimed and as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the spindle attachment;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the mode of assembling the attachment on a mounted cotton picking spindle;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail in longitudinal section and elevation showing the manner of afiixing the attachment on the mounted spindle; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section and elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates generally a conventional cotton picking spindle which embodies a shaft B revolubly mounted in a bearing C attached to a portion D of a cotton picking machine, which shaft is formed at its inner end with a pinion E by means of which it is driven in the usual manner. The shaft B has an outer end portion B which projects from the bearing C and terminates in an elongated hardened metal tapered end portion F formed with a series of longitudinally extending rows of spaced cotton snaring spurs G. Mounted on the end portion B of the shaft B and loosely encircling the outer end of the bearing C is an oil seal ring H which tightly grips the shaft to rotate therewith.

The present invention resides in a shell-like attachment I adapted to be positioned to encompass the spindle A in telescoped relation thereto and to be fixedly mounted on the end portion B of the shaft B and which embodies a tapered tube 6 closed at its smaller end and having a cylindrical open end portion 7 at its larger end formed to encompass the shaft portion B in close fitting engagement therewith. The tapered tube 6 is designed to receive and completely sheath the tapered portion F of the spindle A and overlie the spurs G thereon in outwardly spaced relation thereto. For this purpose the tube 6 has a smooth conical bore of circular cross section slightly larger in diameter along its length than the over-all diameter of the tapered portion F of the spindle A and the protruding spurs G thereon so that the inner face of the tapered portion of the tube 6 will be spaced throughout from the tapered portion F of the spindle A with a clearance between the spurs G on the latter and the tube 6 when the latter is applied. The tapered tube 6 is formed on its exterior with a series of flat faces 8 extending along the length thereof from each of which projects a row of spaced barbs or picking spurs 9 complementary to the arrangement of spurs G on the spindle F.

The cylindrical end portion 7 is formed at its juncture with the tapered tube 6 with an external bevel 10 which leads to a cylindrical portion '7 having an outside diameter slightly less than that of the portion 7, and formed in the portion 7 is a plurality of longitudinally extending open ended slots 11 which lead into the bevel 10 and serve to permit contraction of the portion 7. The inner surface of the portion 7 is formed with fine circumferentially extending teeth or threads 12, or otherwise roughened to enhance gripping engagement with the end portion B of the spindle A.

As a means for contracting the tube end portion '7 into tight engagement with the spindle portion B, a rigid unyielding annulus K is provided having an internal diameter minutely less than the external diameter of the cylindrical end portion 7 and such that by encompassing the portion 7 by the annulus K when the portion 7 is positioned around the end portion B of the shaft B in sliding contact therewith, the portion 7 will be contracted into tight gripping engagement with the smooth surface of the portion B which gripping engagement is augmented by the roughened inner face of the portion 7 then forced against the surface of the portion B.

In the application and opcnation of the. invention, when it is desired to recondition a mounted, worn spindle A, the oil seal. ring H thereon is removed, which operation is ordinarily initiated by means of a. tool such. as a wheel puller whereby the ring is pulled free, of the, shaft B, so that it may then be freely withdrawnfrom; the spindle A.

On. this. being accomplished the tube I is telescoped. on the spindle A with its cylindrical end portion slidingly encircling the shaft end portion B in snug engagement therewith. The annulus K is then strung onthetube J; and seated against the outer margin of the bevetltt as shownin Fig. 2, where the reduced portion 7' of the tube, then affords a clearance between the. tube and the inner periphery ofthe annulus K. The annulus is then forced over the. end portion 7. so as. to contract the latter: into gripping engagement with the, shaft portion; B as. before described, the annulus K then being positioned so that an end rim 14 thereon will encompass the outer end of the bearing C as shown in full lines, in Fig. 4,. The annulus K thus serves the double purpose of clamping the attachment J on, the spindle A and of the oil seal ring H which. it re,- places.

In event the spurs 9 on the attachment I become ex cessively worn it may be readily removed and replaced by a new or reconditioned attachment in an obvious fashion, which may be accomplished in the field with little or no delay and so as to effect a-material saving in installation and operational costs over present practice ofreplacing the conventional spindles.

While we have shown a specific embodiment of the.

invention, we do not limit ourselves to the exact details of the construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of th Parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a cotton picking machine, the combination with a shaft having an elongated tapered end portion, and a.

hearing in which said shaft is revolubly mounted with the portion of the shaft carrying the elongated tapered end portion protruding from said bearing; of a tubular attachment having a tapered end portion telescoping the, tapered end portion of said spindle and completely encompassing same, said attachment embodying a contractible cylindrical end portion encompassing said protruding portion of said shaft in close contact therewith, and an annulus surrounding said cylindrical end portion and contracting it into tight gripping engagement with said shaft, said annulus overlying an adjacent portion of said bearing to form an oil seal.

2. A reconditioning attachment for cotton picking spin dles comprising a tapered tubular shellprovided with longitudinal rows of spaced cotton soaring spurs; said shell having an openended contractible cylindrical end portion; and an annulus slidably engageable with said end portion for contracting said end portion.

3. The structure called for in claim 2 in which said annulus has an inner periphery slightly smaller than the normal outer periphery of said end portion, and said end portion having an external; bevel at its juncture with said tapered shell.

4. The combination with a cotton picking spindle embodying a rotary shaft mounted in a bearing and having; an. elongated tapered outer; end. portion carrying longitudinally extending rows, of picker spurs; of a tubular tapered shell having longitudinally extending. rows. of picker spurs thereon, said shell overlying the tapered outer end portion of said spindle and completely encompassing same in spaced relation. theteto; said shell having an open ended contractible cylindrical inner end portion encompassing and contacting a protruding portion of said shaft, n m ns rried. on. he inn r n por ion of. said.- shell tightly contracting said. inner end portion into. gripping engagement with said shaft.

5. The. combination with a cotton, picking spindle enrbodying a rotary shaft mounted ina. bearing with a portion thereof protruding from the. bearing and having an elongated tapered outer end portion carrying longitudinally extending rows; of picker spurs; of a tubular tapered shell having longitudinally extending rows of picker spurs thereon, said'shell overlyingthetapered outer end portion of said spindle and completely encompassing same. in spaced relation thereto; said shell having an open, ended cylindrical inner endportion encompassing and contacting the protruding end portion of said shaft and having open ended longitudinal slots; and an annulus encompassing said cylindrical end portion in engagement therewith con.- tracting said end portion into. gripping engagement with said shaft.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 in which said cylindrical end portion has its inner surface roughened, for augmenting gripping engagement with said shaft.

7. A reconditioning attachment for cotton picking spindles comprising an elongated tubular shell having on the exterior thereof longitudinally extending rows of cotton picking spurs, and having an open ended cylindrical inner end portion having open ended slots therein extending lengthwise thereof; said shell having itsinterior of circular cross section and unobstructed throughout and having the interior of its cylindrical end portion rough for atfording an augmented gripping action when applied; and an annulus slidably engageablewith the exterior of said cylindrical endportion having an internal diameter slightly less than the normal external diameter of saidendportion.

References Cited inthe. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

2,440,767 Baker Mayv 4, 1948 2,497,777 Baker et al Feb. 1.4,, 1950- 2,660,851 Hagen Dec. 1-, 1953- 2,667,725 Voigt .Feb,. 2, 1954- 

